Military notes

Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Timothy D. Burrows graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas..

Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Michael O. Bueno, son of Lourdes Bueno of Chester Street, Fitchburg, graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Airman Joshua C. Lalashius, son of Terese Merrill of Lake Shore Drive, West Brookfield, and Christopher Lalashius of Bigelow Street, North Brookfield, graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

•Military veterans with entrepreneurial dreams will have the chance to win startup money to open their own business through Signal 88 Security’s new contest, Operation American Dream: From Battlefield to Boss.

Here’s how the contest works: From now through May, veterans can submit a 500-word essay on why they want to open their own business. Submissions will be accepted via www.signal88.com/OperationAmericanDream.

At the end of each month, representatives from Signal 88 Security will select three monthly finalists. The public will vote among those finalists for one monthly winner, who will receive a $500 semifinalist prize and become eligible for the grand prize: $5,000 in startup money to start their business. The prize money doubles to $10,000 if the winning veteran chooses to open a Signal 88 Security franchise.

The first deadline for submitting an essay and video to be considered among the first round of monthly winners is Jan. 15. Subsequent deadlines are on the 15th of each month, with the final deadline on May 15.

•Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense agency, is encouraging guardsmen and reservists to nominate their civilian employers for the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award before the Jan. 21 deadline. The Freedom Award is the nation’s highest recognition for employers supporting Guard and Reserve members. Employers of every size and industry are eligible to receive the honor. Guard and Reserve members, or a family member acting on their behalf, may nominate their employers at www.FreedomAward.mil.

Any civilian employer who has not previously received the award is eligible. Service members who have previously nominated their employers are encouraged to do so again. The Department of Defense will recognize nominees, semifinalists and finalists. The 2013 recipients will be announced in early summer and honored in Washington, D.C., during a ceremony in the fall. Past recipients have met with the president of the United States, secretary of defense and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

For more information contact Beth Sherman in ESGR Public Affairs at (571) 372-0705 or ESGR-PA@osd.mil.